Marine Lance Cpl. Chad B. Maynard

Died June 15, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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19, of Montrose, Colo.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1 Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; operating with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division of the U.S. Army, attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward); killed June 15 when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device while he was conducting combat operations near Ramadi, Iraq. Also killed were Lance Cpl. Jonathan R. Flores, Lance Cpl. Dion M. Whitley, Cpl. Jesse Jaime and Cpl. Tyler S. Trovillion.

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Hundreds gather to pay respects to fallen Marine

Associated Press

MONTROSE, Colo. — The father of a Marine killed in Iraq told about 300 people gathered at a memorial in a high school gym Monday that his son knew the risks that went with serving his country.

Lance Cpl. Chad Maynard, 19, died Wednesday in Ramadi, Iraq, when the Humvee he was driving struck an improvised explosive device.

“When you take the oath, you always know the possibility exists,” said the Marine’s father, Gene Maynard, who himself is a former Marine who served in Vietnam.

“It’s just too bad. I think the world was a much better place with him in it.”

Chad Maynard participated in Montrose High School’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, elective courses taught by the military services at more than 3,000 high schools nationwide.

“I wanted to be just like him,” said Bob Edie, who was one year behind Maynard at the school. “He was a good man — strong, courageous.”

Friends previously described Maynard as an invincible, natural leader who lived and breathed the Marines. Gene Maynard previously said his son began pestering recruiters years before he could join until they told him to stop.

Chad Maynard’s brother, Jacob, will accompany the fallen Marine’s body to Colorado, where a funeral is being planned in the Denver area.

“We thought he was the guy that nothing would happen to,” friend Tom Sramek said Friday upon learning of Maynard’s death.

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Birth of daughter to slain Marine a bittersweet occasion

MONTROSE, Colo. — Gene Maynard is happy to be a grandfather to a 6-pound, 5-ounce blonde-haired baby girl, but he’s sad that she’ll never get to know her father.

Lance Cpl. Chad Maynard was killed in Iraq earlier this year.

“I sometimes wake up and don’t believe it’s true,” he said. The Montrose Marine was killed on June 14 when the Humvee he was riding in hit a roadside bomb.

Chad Maynard’s wife, Becky, gave birth to Lanae Raelyn Maynard at 11:40 p.m. on Tuesday at a Phoenix hospital.

Gene Maynard said mom and baby “are doing fine.”

A college education fund has been set up at First National Bank in Montrose for the baby and has reached $6,000, said bank manager Randy Havens.

Money is also being raised to erect a lighted flagpole and plaque at a park in town. Gene Maynard said that his son organized rallies there to support the troops.

— Associated Press